Stroke Risk Analysis (cardiovascular risk analysis)

Stroke Risk Analysis (cardiovascular risk analysis)

One person is believed to suffer a stroke every hour in the UAE with 8,000 patients admitted to hospital because of the condition. As the incidence of stroke continues to grow it places a significant burden on the healthcare system. Worldwide stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60; however, in the UAE, stroke patients are around 20 years younger than the worldwide average.

The checkup consists of 2 parts:

Ultrasound

Ultrasound to examine the blood vessels and the blood flow leading to the brain and in the brain itself. With this exploration the physician is able to determine arteriosclerotic plaques or constrictions. Thus making it possible to check on the blood supply of the brain and prevent bursting of the plaques by medical or surgical intervention to avoid stroke or other blood vessel based deterioration. IMT (INTIMA MEDIA THICKNESS) means the Duplex sonographical picturing of the thickness of the arterial vascular wall, especially the inner layer (Intima), and rating the thickness of the intima media (INTIMA MEDIA THICKNESS).
IMT allows a very early determination of a generalized arteriosclerosis which may lead to ischaemic attacks or even stroke or heart infarction. This method is able to supply important information for the early diagnosis of an increased risk of stroke or heart failure.

Risk calculation

Risk calculation based on the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk. Stroke specialists will carry out an individual stroke risk calculation estimating the ten-year risk and lifetime risk of having a stroke. The following laboratory results (Total Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol) are necessary for the calculation. Either you bring them with you or we will do the test in the clinic.

Based on the results the physician will discuss any specific treatment or lifestyle changes that may be necessary. Major lifestyle issues that can lead to stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and obesity. Link

Prof. Dr. med D. Claus said, “’stroke is a huge health concern across the globe and here in the UAE we see a greater number of cases linked to the already high incidence of obesity and cardiovascular disease, as well as lifestyle factors including poor diet and lack of exercise. The test is a quick and painless way of establishing risk and allowing us to determine a suitable action plan. ‘What most people don’t realize is that as many as 70% of strokes could be avoided by preventative measures.”’

70% of strokes could be avoided by preventative measures

We recently welcomed Professor Dr. med Ringelstein to our neurology team. Prof. Ringelstein is a Board Member of the German Stroke Society and was part of the accreditation team for the dedicated stroke unit at Rashid Hospital, the only unit outside the EU to be awarded an international accreditation.

© GNC, German Neuroscience Center Dubai (Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Counseling, Dubai, UAE)

© GNC, German Neuroscience Center Dubai (Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Counseling, Dubai, UAE)

Knowing from long years of experience that neurological or psychiatric illnesses are very often considered to be better not mentioned or talked about, we would nonetheless like to introduce you briefly to the world of neurology and psychiatry. There are no other medical sciences that have achieved more progress and improvement over the past decades than these. Especially the “Decade of the brain” led to a definite change for the better in diagnostics and therapies. Today we can offer a wide range of modern diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for nearly all psychiatric and neurological disorders. Yet, when it comes to neurological deficits or mental illness there are still many prejudices and unnecessary fears prevalent.

Whereas usually everybody accepts the fact that illness is normal and happens to everyone from time to time, normal illnesses are most often considered to be solely physical such as a broken leg, colds, diarrhoea or similar. Diabetes mellitus is as normal an illness as is backache or headache.

Illnesses of the brain, the psyche or neurological deficiencies are also as normal as any other illnesses and moreover, they are not only very common but on the increase. Their patterns may sometimes be worrying or frightening but this is largely due to a huge lack of information in general public.

According to the study “The Global Burden of disease” carried out by the WHO (World Health Organization) depression for instance is the most important disease of all, more important even than diseases of the heart, asthma or cancer. And yet, the majority of people suffering from depression do not seek professional help or are not treated sufficiently. We should therefore not only like to contribute to health education but we offer practical help and assistance to everyone suffering from or fearing psychiatric and/or neurological disorders.

GNC, German Neuroscience Center (Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Counseling in Dubai, UAE